Long range artillery shell

Abstract

A long range artillery shell (1) comprising rocket propellant material (10), a rocket motor nozzle (14) and base bleed propellant material (12). Ignition of the rocket propellant material (10) is delayed until the base bleed propellant material (12) has substantially finished burning. The base bleed propellant material (12) may be housed in the same chamber and behind the rocket propellant material (10) in order to provide support to the rocket propellant material (10) during launch. The two propellant materials (10, 12) may be separated by a thermal ignition barrier (18) to prevent premature rocket ignition.

We claim: 
     
       1. A long range artillery shell having a rocket motor comprising rocket propellant material and a rocket nozzle, wherein said shell further comprises base bleed propellant material, base bleed ignition means for igniting the base bleed propellant material when the shell is launched and a rocket ignition delay mechanism for delaying ignition of the rocket propellant material until the base bleed propellant material has substantially finished burning. 
     
     
       2. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rocket propellant material comprises a single solid grain of propellant. 
     
     
       3. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein a fuel container defines a single chamber in which the base bleed propellant material is housed rearwardly of the rocket propellant material. 
     
     
       4. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base bleed propellant material is housed in an annular unit, arranged coaxially with the rocket nozzle. 
     
     
       5. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rocket ignition delay mechanism comprises an electronic delay. 
     
     
       6. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claims 1 wherein the rocket ignition delay mechanism comprises a pyrotechnic delay. 
     
     
       7. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base bleed ignition means comprises a mass of pyrotechnic material. 
     
     
       8. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rocket propellant material defines a central cavity extending throughout its length. 
     
     
       9. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 8 wherein support baffles are provided in the cavity. 
     
     
       10. A long range artillery shell having a rocket motor comprising rocket propellant material and a rocket nozzle, wherein said shell further comprises base bleed propellant material, base bleed ignition means for igniting the base bleed propellant material when the shell is launched and a rocket ignition delay mechanism for delaying ignition of the rocket propellant material until the base bleed propellant material has substantially finished burning, wherein the base bleed propellant material is housed in an annular unit, arranged coaxially with the rocket nozzle. 
     
     
       11. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rocket propellant material comprises a single solid grain of propellant. 
     
     
       12. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein a fuel container defines a single chamber in which the base bleed propellant material is housed rearwardly of the rocket propellant material. 
     
     
       13. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rocket ignition delay mechanism comprises an electronic delay. 
     
     
       14. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rocket ignition delay mechanism comprises a pyrotechnic delay. 
     
     
       15. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base bleed ignition means comprises a mass of pyrotechnic material. 
     
     
       16. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rocket propellant material defines a central cavity extending throughout its length. 
     
     
       17. A long range artillery shell as claimed in claim 16, wherein support baffles are provided in said cavity.